Pat Cummins has commended the abilities of many Australian players to step up when the team needed it, following a spectacular run chase in New Zealand to seal the series 2-0.
Australia was 34 for 4 chasing 279 on the third evening, and 80 for 5 early on the fourth morning, when Travis Head left. However, Mitchell Marsh, who had been granted a lifeline before Head’s wicket, and the under-pressure Alex Carey combined for a match-changing stand of 140 in 29 overs.
Carey, whose place in the team was under threat following a string of weak shots, finished unbeaten on 98 after Ben Sears shook the chase with two wickets in two balls.
“Think the story of this series was in key moments one guy stood up, we didn’t necessarily play the complete game, but in those pivotal moments someone stood up and made themselves a matchwinner,” Cummins, who struck a vital 32 not out, said. “[We] keep finding ways to win, it’s a pretty awesome squad.”
He said that Marsh and Carey’s ability to bat at a high tempo was critical in putting pressure on New Zealand’s bowlers. It also indicated that the second fresh ball would not be considered.
“We’ve been on the other side of it plenty of times and if the scoreboard’s not moving you feel in the game, but if they are chipping away it seems like it’s all happening pretty quickly,” he said. “That was goal today, be busy, keep the run rate ticking over and bit by bit getting closer.”
“[It was] pretty tense,” he added. “Pretty nervous watching for the last couple of hours, everyone trying to keep themselves busy then looking up at the board. Amazing win.”
Australia concluded the season with six Test wins and one defeat, defeating Pakistan 3-0 and drawing 1-1 with the West Indies. They now have an extended hiatus from Test cricket before meeting India at home in November.
New Zealand captain Tim Southee was proud of his team’s fight, but he regretted missing a wonderful opportunity to win at home against Australia for the first time in 31 years.
“The partnership with Mitch Marsh and Alex Carey sort of broke the back of our attack, but then a great little exciting end to the day,” he said. “When you are playing the No. 1 side in the world you need to go that little bit further. But a great Test match…ebbed and flowed throughout the whole match.”
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